AN ASYLUM seeker has been remanded in custody after an illegal cannabis factory was discovered in Llangollen.

Bo Chen, 28, a father-of-two who was living in Mold, is charged with growing 113 cannabis plants at a rented cottage at Llangollen, and over the supply of cannabis around Wrexham.

It follows the discovery of cannabis plants at Laurel Cottage in Hall Street, Llangollen, on Wednesday.

Chen, who lives at the Happy Garden Take-away restaurant in Wrexham Street, appeared in custody at Flintshire magistrates’ court at Mold on Saturday morning.

An application for bail by defending solicitor Elzbeth Kenny was rejected.

Prosecutor Robert Blakemore told the court that Chen was the owner of the restaurant in Mold with his wife although he had no status in the UK and was not allowed to work.

Further enquiries were being carried out and his assets had been frozen, he said.

Miss Kenny said that her client was a delivery driver at the restaurant where he lived with extended family.

Chen, who followed the proceedings with the aid of a Chinese interpreter, was a refugee who fled his home town following political unrest, and he was following the correct procedures through the Home Office for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

He “vehemently” denied the drugs offences and claimed that he had been set up, she said.

Magistrates said that bail was being withheld, claiming that there was a risk he would not attend court because of the seriousness and nature of the offences.

Chen will next appear at Wrexham magistrates’ court on August 1 pending committal to the crown court.